Posts Tagged ‘Green Holiday’

Eco-fashion and green designers have come a long way from working with just hemp and serving the hippie set. Now, green fashion can be high fashion and whether you are just looking go green on a budget for splurge for eco-couture there is a wide range of stylish eco-fashion available for the holidays.

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Technorati Tags: eco fashion, green fashion, green gift guide, green gifts, Green Holiday

Going the click and give route is a good way to stay green for the holiday, while helping to make the world a better place. Here we take a look at some great click and give programs online and all you have to do is click. It’s that simple, click and give.

Take some time out of your day and visit the following programs to help make someone else’s Christmas a better one.

Animal Rescue Site:  Click daily to help provide food, shelter and medical care to rescued animals.

The Hunger Site: Click daily to help provide food for those who have none.

Give A Smile: Your free click generates a donation from Tom’s of Maine to support dental care through the Tom’s of Maine Dental Health for All™ program. You may click once a day, every day. 100% of the donations raised go to community organizations that provide dental care to people who would otherwise go without. You can help fill in the gap in dental coverage access, just by clicking. In conjunction with care2.

Global Warming: Your free click generates donations from our sponsors. You may click once a day, every day. 100% of the donations raised go directly to Carbonfund.org, which supports renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects globally that reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the threat of climate change. In conjunction with care2.

Save Our Oceans:  Click once a day, every day. 100% of the donations raised go directly to Oceana to save our oceans through policy, advocacy and research. Oceana’s scientists, lawyers and advocates work around the world to protect corals, make seafood safe, save sea turtles and more! In conjunction with care2.

Technorati Tags: Christmas charities, click and give, green christmas, green gift giving, Green Holiday, Holiday Charities

Instead of buying a live Christmas tree this year form your local store front only to throw it away in a few weeks, try making your Christmas tree choice more eco-friendly.

The alternatives that are offered today range from the simple country look to artsy designs; which one you choose depends on the overall Christmas theme look that you are going for in your home. Here we are going to take a look at the non-live and live Christmas eco-tree alternatives that are available today.

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Technorati Tags: eco trees, eco trees for christmas, green christmas, green christmas trees, Green Holiday

With the global green movement in full-swing and “greenness” sweeping across America there can be an onslaught of turkey terminology heading your way for this year’s Thanksgiving. From cage-free, range-free, natural, organic and more it can be a challenge to pick the right turkey for both your family celebration and for the least impact on the environment.

One thing that is very important to consider when “going green” in regards to food is in learning about where the food comes from in the first place. With turkeys, it can be a bit disheartening when one learns the following information: Through over consumption and the regular American want for more, more, more we have in general almost destroyed the indigenous turkey breeds in North America. This means that in order for breeders to meet the demand of bigger birds, we have developed all breeds of turkey (except for one) to such a state that these animals cannot breed on their own. To see a first hand account of this, you can watch the Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs Segment on Turkey Insemination. **Not for the faint of heart

Now, there is one breed of turkey left that are bred as nature intended and that is the Heritage Turkey. These turkeys live outdoors, they mate naturally and of course grow slower following the natural growth rate of turkeys. You can learn more about Heritage Turkeys and where to find one for your holiday celebration through Slow Food USA.

If you cannot get your hands on a Heritage Turkey direct from the farmer or farmer’s market, you can look for the Heritage Turkey type at the local Whole Foods or regular grocery store. When looking local, keep an eye out for the following turkey terminology to help you choose the right bird for the table:

• Vegetarian Fed: These birds are fed a strict diet on fruits, grains and vegetables. These birds are also not allowed outside of the pasture to forage for food as bugs are not considered part of the diet.
• Cage Free: This just means that these birds are not confined in cage. What this does not tell you, is if the bird is still left in a confined space.
• Organic: These birds are fed with pesticide and chemical free grains.
• Free Range: These birds are “free” to roam around. Depending on the farmer/breeder that they come from this could mean that they run around an outside farm, a poultry facility or inside a building.
• Day Range: The birds are outside during the day and cooped overnight.
• Pastured: These birds are free ranged on a pasture where they forage for food.

If you would like more information on Heritage Turkeys and North American Turkey history, check out the information provided by Sustainable Table and The University of  Illinois Turkey for the Holidays.

And if you need some help finding a local or organic bird near you, try the Whole Foods Stores or an open search through Local Harvest.

Technorati Tags: dirty jobs, eco turkey, Green Holiday, green turkey, heritage turkey, local harvest, organic turkey, slow food usa, sustainable table, turkey breed

Halloween will soon be here and there really are ways to make this celebration a green one.  Here we take a look at 5 simple ways that you can make this spooky holiday healthier for your family and the environment.

• Buy your pumpkins, gourds, apples and other seasonal items from a local  farmer’s market.
• Save pumpkin seeds after carving and bake them. Pumpkin seeds are a healthy snack, plus you can help feed the local birds with the seeds that don’t get eaten in the house.
• Make your own costume or purchase a costume from the local thrift store. Also, donate those old costumes to a local children’s shelter or foster home to help more kids have a fun holiday.
• Pass out organic and fair trade candies. These can be picked up at your local whole foods, Trader Vic;s or other health food store.
• Use recyclable bags for collecting candy. Better yet, take some old canvas bags from around the house and decorate them with a Halloween theme. Even old pillowcases can garner new life with some imagination.

Technorati Tags: canvas bags, green halloween, Green Holiday, organic candies, pumpkins, recycle costumes